By James Slater: Exciting slugger Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola, currently the #1 ranked heavyweight in the World Boxing Council (WBC) charts, is set to return to action on Feb. 18th, on the under-card of the scheduled Paul Williams-Nobuhiro Ishida bout in Atlantic City.
This is the word according to the Mexican/American’s long-time trainer Henry Ramirez, who spoke with Fighthype.com recently. There is no word yet on who 30-year-old Arreola, 34-2(29) will face, but Ramirez informed Fighthype that the opponent will be “a higher calibre than what he faced in 2011.”
Ramirez went on to say how his charge is hoping to land a crack at Ring Magazine, IBF, WBA, WBO heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko later in the year. As fans know, Arreola has already been in with current WBC ruler Vitali – giving “Dr. Iron Fist” a decent challenge back in September of 2009 – and “The Nightmare” is arguably one of the best available challengers for “Dr. Steel Hammer.”
Arreola fought at a quite remarkable pace last year, picking up five wins as he dropped some weight. Refocused on the job in hand – namely that of winning the world title – Arreola fought from January right through to November with scarcely a break in sight. Now looking to face a top-ranked foe before hopefully getting in there with Wladimir, Arreola could face a number of guys next month.
Who would the fans like to see the approx 235-pound warrior in with so as to earn a shot at the younger Klitschko brother?
I’m sure a return with Tomasz Adamek, the only other guy to have beaten Arreola, would appeal to fans everywhere (and Adamek himself has spoken about a return with the man he out-pointed back in April of 2010). How about Arreola going in with British hope Tyson Fury (that’s maybe asking too much of big Tyson, but I’ll bet if you asked him, he’d tell you he’d love the fight!). How about Arreola Vs. a giant in Michael Grant, or Arreola Vs. a fellow puncher in Sam Peter?
Team-Arreola are currently looking over a bunch of names. The fans await Arreola’s return. Whoever he fights on Feb. 18th, Arreola is sure to entertain. But can he beat a Klitschko?